Ken Andersonwww.mayberryreflections.com
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Recently a local radio station talk show host mentioned that we are not
living in Mayberry where everything is idyllic and everyone gets along
perfectly. It has always intrigued me that this is the perception that many
people have of our beloved Mayberry, when in reality the people of Mayberry
are no different than the rest of us. They experience the same emotions
that we all do. Even in Mayberry there is jealousy, greed, anger, deceit,
prejudices, and gossip. One of the things I love best about watching TAGS
is that I often see myself through the actions of those Mayberry folks who
we have all come to love. When I see Opie get jealous of his friends who
won "his medals", I see myself being envious of my friends and coworkers who
received the promotions and recognitions that I thought I deserved. When I
see the good citizens of Mayberry turn against Ed Sawyer simply because he
was new and a little different, I see the prejudices that live within me
come out for those people in my neighborhood who I do not quite understand
and who are a little different. But these are the things that make Mayberry
such a special place. The people who live there are real. I can identify
with them. They are not chasing dreams nor are they trying to amass great
fortunes. They are trying to live life the best they can, and try as they
might they fall short in many ways, just as we all do. But in the end they
always seem to learn from their mistakes. and as a result they are able to
forgive and forget, and they are able to move on to live another day the
best they can among family and friends. Perhaps the best thing about the
folks of Mayberry is that they have given me the gift of laughter -not only
the gift of laughing at their antics, but also the gift of being able to
laugh at my own antics. And for this I am very grateful.
